Heterogeneous Storage Block Allocation via Cascading Segmentation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Data storage systems with heterogeneous erase block sizes face inefficiencies in data storage and unrealized capacity due to complexities in allocation unit sizing and management.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a method that partitions erase blocks into allocation units in a cascading sequence, allowing for dynamic allocation and management of zones with varying sizes, enabling efficient data storage and retrieval by maintaining a list of allocation units and directly mapping addresses to erase blocks.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If heterogeneous erase block sizes are introduced into the storage system, then storage capacity and flexibility are improved, but data storage efficiency and allocation management deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the storage system into multiple allocation units, each corresponding to a specific erase block size. This segmentation allows the system to manage heterogeneous erase blocks efficiently by creating dedicated allocation units for different block sizes, thereby maintaining high storage efficiency while supporting diverse storage capacities.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by assigning different allocation unit sizes to different zones of the storage device based on their erase block characteristics. Each zone is optimized locally with allocation units matched to its specific erase block size, ensuring that each region operates at peak efficiency while the overall system benefits from heterogeneous capacity.
2Quantity of substance
If heterogeneous erase block sizes are introduced into the storage system, then storage capacity and flexibility are improved, but allocation management complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the storage system into multiple allocation units, each corresponding to a specific erase block size. This segmentation allows the system to manage heterogeneous erase blocks efficiently by creating dedicated allocation units for different block sizes, thereby maintaining high storage efficiency while supporting diverse storage capacities.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a universal allocation unit structure that can represent multiple erase block sizes through a common interface. The allocation unit design allows it to function across different zones with varying erase block sizes, providing a unified management mechanism that reduces complexity while supporting heterogeneous storage.
3Quantity of substance
If heterogeneous allocation unit sizes are used according to heterogeneous erase block sizes, then storage capacity utilization is improved, but system complexity and management overhead increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by assigning different allocation unit sizes to different zones of the storage device based on their erase block characteristics. Each zone is optimized locally with allocation units matched to its specific erase block size, ensuring that each region operates at peak efficiency while the overall system benefits from heterogeneous capacity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a universal allocation unit structure that can represent multiple erase block sizes through a common interface. The allocation unit design allows it to function across different zones with varying erase block sizes, providing a unified management mechanism that reduces complexity while supporting heterogeneous storage.
Data Source
AI summary
A storage system forms an allocation unit for writing into solid-state storage memory. The allocation unit is formed from at least a portion of a first erase block and a first sub block of a partitioned second erase block. The system forms multiple subsequent allocation units. Each subsequent allocation unit is formed from a remaining second sub block of a partitioned erase block and at least a portion of a next erase block. Forming the subsequent allocation units consumes each of multiple erase blocks in a cascading sequence. The system allocates the allocation unit and the subsequent allocation units for writing in the storage system.